OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

lousubcap · October 7

Tuesday Middle East update:

"“I really think we’re going to have a deal,” Trump said yesterday on the first day of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on the U.S. ceasefire plan in Egypt. Palestinian and Egyptian officials told BBC News that the sessions this week are focussed on “creating the conditions” for a possible exchange of all Israeli hostages in return for a number of Palestinian prisoners. Rushdi Abualouf and Kathryn Armstrong report; Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

The United States has provided Israel with at least $21.7 billion in military assistance since the war on Gaza started two years ago, according to a study published by the Costs of War project today. A second report says the U.S. has spent roughly $10 billion more on security aid and operations across the Middle East in the past two years. Matthew Lee reports for AP News."

lousubcap · October 7

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"“I sort of made a decision pretty much,” Trump said yesterday when asked if he had made a decision on supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Trump said he wants to know what Kyiv plans to use them for before supplying them, adding that he’s “not looking to see an escalation.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that if Trump supplies Tomahawks to Ukraine, it would be a “completely new, qualitatively new stage of escalation.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that “two rounds of shelling struck around 1.25 km” [less than a mile] from the perimeter of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Monday afternoon.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned the attacks came as the plant has been running on emergency diesel generators for almost two weeks after losing its external power source. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of being behind recent attacks near the nuclear power station.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters “there is no reason to blame Russia” for recent drone sightings across Europe, describing the “whole story” as “really rather strange, to say the very least”. Peskov also said that “many politicians in Europe… are now inclined to blame Russia for everything”, and that they do so “unreasonably, indiscriminately”, after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently said he assumed Russia was behind the reported drone flights."

lousubcap · October 8

Wednesday Middle East update:

"U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will join the Gaza peace plan talks in Egypt today. U.S. and Israeli officials said the negotiations in Egypt yesterday were of a technical nature and focussed on mapping out the remaining gaps. A deal has never been closer, the officials suggested.. Sources said that Wikoff and Kushner briefed Trump yesterday on the current progress of the negotiations as described to them by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Senior Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya told Egypt’s Qahera TV yesterday that Hamas was ready to reach a deal but needed a “guarantee” that the war would end and would never be repeated. A source close to the talks said that yesterday’s negotiations had ended more positively than those on Monday, adding that today would be a decisive indicator given the presence of senior U.S. mediators and the Qatari prime minister. Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell report for Reuters.

Hamas said today that it has exchanged a list of the names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released under a swap deal. Tala Ramadan, Jana Choukeir and Nidal Al-Mughrabi report for Reuters.

The Israeli military today intercepted the nine boats of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition & Thousand Madleens to Gaza which aimed to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and detained 145 activists. Melanie Lidman and Renata Brito report for AP News."

lousubcap · October 8

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday said that Russia is using oil tankers for intelligence gathering and sabotage operations. Zelenskyy said he received the information in a briefing from Ukraine’s intelligence chief. “Recent cases of drones being launched from tankers are one such example,” Zelenskyy said. Reuters reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces have captured almost 5,000 square kilometres (1,930sq miles) of Ukrainian territory so far this year, and Moscow retains the strategic initiative on the battlefield.

Russian air defence units destroyed 184 Ukrainian drones in recent attacks, the RIA Novosti state-owned news agency reports.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was waiting for clarity from the United States about the possible supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, saying such weapons could theoretically carry nuclear warheads and reiterated that Moscow would see the provision of such weapons as a serious escalation. The Kremlin also said it assumed for now that US President Donald Trump still sought a peace settlement in Ukraine.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she believed Trump had come to the conclusion that Russia was not interested in a peace deal with Ukraine, and that the only way forward was to apply pressure, continue to support Ukraine, and impose sanctions on Russia."

lousubcap · October 9

Thursday Middle East update:

"Israel and Hamas overnight agreed on the initial terms of a deal to exchange the Israeli hostages and around 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained by Israeli forces in the coming days. Hamas has confirmed the deal, but a Palestinian source told BBC News that they have yet to receive a list of Palestinian prisoners Israel would free in the exchange. An Israeli official said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was convening his cabinet today to sign the agreement, which would then mark the start of the formal ceasefire. Alice Cuddy, Yolande Knell, and Hugo Bachega report.

A “formal declaration” ending the war in Gaza must be made in order for the hostage exchange to take place in the coming days, a senior Hamas official said today. “This is what the Israelis have signed up to,” he said. “This is not a ceasefire. It is a declaration to end the war.” Mostafa Salem, Abbas Al Lawati, and Eyad Kourdi report for CNN.

Shortly after announcing the Israel-Hamas deal, President Trump told Axios that he is “likely going to Israel in the coming days,” to speak to the Knesset. Trump said he had a “great” call with Netanyahu yesterday, adding “[Netanyahu] is so happy. He should be. It is a great achievement.” Trump also said that under the deal, the hostages would “likely” be released on Monday, and that his administration is “forming a council of peace” to maintain a lasting end to the conflict. Barak Ravid reports; Kaanita Iyer report for CNN.

The U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, today called for the immediate delivery of 170,000 tonnes of food, medicine, shelter, and other supplies to Gaza. “Let’s get the hostages out and surge aid in – fast,” Fletcher said. Nick Cumming-Bruce reports for the New York Times."

lousubcap · October 9

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said recent drone incidents and other airspace violations show Europe is facing hybrid warfare to which it must respond with measures that go beyond traditional defences, speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Von der Leyen said it was clear Russia’s aim was to “sow division” and “weaken support for Ukraine”, and that Europe could “either shy away and watch Russian threats escalate, or meet them with unity, deterrence and resolve”. Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, has denied that Moscow was behind the recent drone incursions into the airspaces of multiple European nations.

Russia will respond harshly if the United States supplies Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian parliament’s defence committee, said, emphasising that “those who supply them and those who use them will have problems”.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the impetus to find a Ukrainian peace deal, which emerged after the summit between President Putin and US President Donald Trump in August, had proven to be exhausted.

Ryabkov urged US leadership to take a “sober and responsible approach” to a possible transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, saying such transactions could lead to a “qualitative change” in the situation."

lousubcap · October 10

Friday Middle East update:

"The ceasefire in Gaza is now in effect and Israeli forces are pulling back from parts of the territory in accordance with the deal approved by the Israeli government overnight, the Israeli military said today. The IDF troops positioned along the “updated deployment lines” will “continue to remove any immediate threat,” the IDF said. BBC News reports.

Thousands of Palestinians have started moving from southern Gaza toward Gaza City following the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area.According to an IDF spokesperson, “movement from the south to the north of Gaza is permitted” as the ceasefire came into effect at 12 p.m. local time. CNN reports; Alexander Cornwell and Nida Al-Mughrabi report forReuters.

The Israeli forces’ partial withdrawal has now triggered a 72-hour countdown for Hamas to release the hostages it is holding. Separately, Israel has published the names of 250 Palestinian prisoners set for release as part of the agreement and Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya said he received guarantees from the United States and other mediators that the war is over. Jeremy Diamond reports for CNN; Tamar Michaelis reports for CNN; Reuters reports.

In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today thanked President Trump “for his global leadership and his relentless efforts to put together this plan to return the hostages” and “great friendship toward our people and country.” Netanyahu also thanked the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Tamar Michaelis and Catherine Nicholls report for CNN.

U.S. officials said yesterday that the United States will send 200 U.S. troops to Israel to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire deal in Gaza. The U.S. soldiers will join troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the UAE to provide oversight and will work to establish a civil-military coordination center in Israel to provide security and humanitarian support. The U.S. soldiers are not intended to enter Gaza, one official said. Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times."

lousubcap · October 10

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s prime minister, the head of the presidential office, and a senior sanctions adviser are due to meet with President Trump in the United States next week to discuss air defence, energy and sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that two Russian anti-aircraft missiles exploded near an Azerbaijan Airlines flight last year, causing the plane to crash and killing 38 people on board, according to The Moscow Times.

The newspaper said that several conflicting explanations had been given for the December 25 plane crash, including bad weather and a malfunctioning air defence system firing at Ukrainian drones.

President Donald Trump said the US would defend Finland, a NATO ally, should it ever come under attack from Russia – but also added, “I don’t think [Putin] is going to do that.” Trump’s remarks came after the two sides signed a deal for Finland to assist the US Coast Guard in acquiring 11 icebreaker ships to patrol the Arctic."

lousubcap · October 13

Monday Middle East update:

"All 20 of the remaining living hostages in Gaza have returned to Israel this morning. They have been brought to the Re'im military facility in southern Israel to undergo initial medical screenings. Oren Liebermann reports for CNN.

Buses carrying Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived in Ramallah in the West Bank today. These are the first of nearly 2,000 detained Palestinians expected to be freed in the coming hours. David M. Halbfinger, Aaron Boxerman, Natan Odenheimer, Isabel Kershner, Adam Rasgon, and David E. Sanger report for the New York Times.

The first aid trucks since the ceasefire began arrived in Gaza yesterday. A spokesperson for the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that supplies of cooking gas had entered Gaza for the first time since March. The easing of restrictions has allowed the agency to deliver medical and emergency supplies where they are most needed, OCHA added. BBC News reports.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators told Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya that Trump’s deal was his last chance to end the war, following Al-Hayya’s immediate reaction to refuse the deal, according to officials. The sources said that Turkey warned him that Turkey and Qatar would remove all diplomatic and political cover if Hamas did not agree to the deal. Jared Maslin and Summer Said reports for the Wall Street Journal."

lousubcap · October 13

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"U.S. intelligence shared with Kyiv has enabled Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy assets, including oil refineries far beyond the frontline, according to Ukrainian sources and U.S. officials. Officials said that the United States has been helping Ukraine mount these long-range strikes for months, in an attempt to weaken Russia’s economy and force them to negotiate. Christopher Miller, Amy Mackinnon, and Max Seddon report for the Financial Times.

Trump said that he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday on the phone about Ukraine obtaining long-range Tomahawk missiles. Trump told reporters during his flight to Israel that before he agrees, he “might speak to Russia about that, in all fairness,” because it would be a “step up” in the war. Megan Messerly reports for POLITICO."

lousubcap · October 14

Tuesday Middle East update:

"Nearly 1,700 Palestinians who were detained without charge in Israel and 250 Palestinian prisoners were released yesterday and returned to Beitunia in the West Bank and Khan Younis in Gaza. Celebrations in the West Bank went ahead despite Israeli warnings that anyone seen to be supporting “terrorist organizations” risked arrest. Sam Metz and Jalal Bwaitel report for AP News.

“We have had very good indications already,” that countries, including the United States as well as European and Arab states, will contribute to the $70 billion cost of rebuilding Gaza, U.N. Development Programme official Jacob Cilliers said today. Cilliers estimated that the two-year war on Gaza had generated 55 million tons of rubble. Emma Farge reports for Reuters.

The U.N. Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, yesterday announced an additional $11 million for aid in Gaza from the U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund, bringing the total to $20 million. Fletcher added that this is a critical window to get aid in before winter. Doha Madani reports for NBC News.

“The first steps to peace are always the hardest,” President Donald Trump said yesterday at the peace summit in Egypt, adding that “rebuilding is maybe going to be the easiest part.” The United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey yesterday signed the “Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity” which commits these nations to “a future of enduring peace,” but provides no specific details on the next stages for ending the war. “A lot of people like the one-state solution. Some people like the two-state solution. We’ll have to see,” Trump said on social media on his return from the summit. Michelle L. Price reports for AP News; Holly Ellyat reports for CNBC News. "

lousubcap · October 14

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to meet at the White House on Friday, a senior Ukrainian official told POLITICO. Separately, in a Sunday interview, Zelenskyy signalled that Trump’s success in negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza gave him more confidence that peace could be reached between Russia and Ukraine. Gregory Svirnovskiy reports.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is pushing Ukraine and Russia to agree to local ceasefires so that external power can be restored to the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, two diplomats told AP News. The IAEA did not comment on the timing of the plans, but has said that Director General Rafael Grossi is engaging “intensively with both sides” to “help prevent a nuclear accident.” Stephanie Liechtenstein reports.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces destroyed 40 Ukrainian drones, the majority over the Belgorod and Voronezh regions. It also reported that Russian troops captured the village of Borivska Andriyivka in the Kharkiv region and Moskovske in Donetsk. Russian forces also advanced deeper into the residential areas of the eastern districts of Myrnohrad."

lousubcap · October 15

Wednesday Middle East update:
"“The defense establishment clarifies that, contrary to reports, the Rafah Crossing did not open today,” an Israeli security official told ABC News. “Preparations are ongoing” for its opening for the exit and entry of Palestinians in Gaza only. Another security official told the BBC that “humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing” as “no such agreement has been reached at any stage.” Aid is entering Gaza through other crossings such as the Kerem Shalom crossing. Yesterday, Israeli officials suggested that the Rafah crossing was staying closed due to Hamas’s failure to hand over more bodies of the hostages. ABC News reports; BBC News reports; Maayan Lubell reports for Reuters.

The International Committee of the Red Cross yesterday said that it may take considerable time to hand over remains of the dead Israeli hostages still in Gaza, calling it a “massive challenge” given the difficulties of finding bodies under the rubble. “The search for human remains is obviously an even bigger challenge than having the people alive being released,” an ICRC spokesperson said. Emma Farge reports for Reuters.

Four more bodies were returned to Israel late last night by Hamas. The Israeli military said that the National Institute of Forensic Medicine has identified three of the bodies as Israeli hostages but has concluded that one of the bodies is not an Israeli hostage. Hamas is expected to return more remains today, according to an Israeli source. 21 bodies remain in Gaza at the time of writing. Deva Lee and Lauren Kent report for CNN; Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy report for AP News.

Israel yesterday returned the remains of 45 unidentified deceased Palestinians to Gaza. Director of Hospitals at the Ministry of Health in Gaza Dr Mohammad Zaqout said that a team of specialists has been formed to identify the 45 bodies. BBC News reports."

lousubcap · October 15

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian drones hit a U.N. humanitarian convoy that was delivering aid to a front-line area in southern Ukraine, according to the U.N.'s Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ukraine. The OCHA said that two World Food Programme trucks were damaged, but that nobody was injured. Reuters reports.

Work is to begin this week to restore external power links to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which has been running on emergency diesel generators for three weeks. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organisation based in Vienna, told the Russian state news agency RIA that it was “vital to agree on a local ceasefire in areas where the repair work is to be carried out”.

The United Kingdom has delivered more than 85,000 military drones to Ukraine over the last six months, Secretary of State for Defence John Healey has said, according to the Press Association.

United States President Donald Trump said he was “very disappointed” with Russian leader Putin in advance of a planned visit by Zelenskyy to Washington, DC, later this week. “I don’t know why he continues with this war,” Trump said of Putin.

Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump in Washington, DC, on Friday, where the two will discuss Ukraine’s air defence and long-range strike capabilities."

lousubcap · October 16

Thursday Middle East update:

"The U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian affairs told Reuters that thousands of humanitarian vehicles must enter Gaza weekly to avoid further catastrophe. “We have 190,000 metric tons of provisions on the borders waiting to go in and we’re determined to deliver,” Fletcher said. Israeli officials said that 600 trucks have been approved to enter Gaza. Fletcher said it was a “good base” but not enough to meet the scale of need. Nidal al-Mughrabi reports.

Israeli military aid agency COGAT said today that preparations to open the Rafah Crossing for the movement of people are ongoing with Egypt, with a date to be announced at a later stage. “It should be emphasised that humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing,” COGAT added in a statement sent to Reuters. Alexander Cornwell reports.

U.S. officials said yesterday that Trump’s peace plan remains on track despite Israel’s threat to resume its war with Gaza due to Hamas’s delay in returning the bodies of the hostages. A U.S. adviser said, “right now, the intention is to keep working with both parties, getting them both to show restraint and creating the right conditions for a demilitarization of Gaza to occur.” President Donald Trump said yesterday that Israeli forces could return to Gaza “as soon as I say the word” if Hamas refused to uphold its end of the ceasefire deal. Eli Stokols reports for POLITICO; Jake Tapper reports for CNN.

Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan are in talks to provide troops for a future stabilization force in Gaza, according to a current and former U.S. defense official. The current official said negotiations on the force are ongoing and no country has made a firm commitment. Felicia Schwartz and Paul McLeary report for POLITICO."

lousubcap · October 16

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth yesterday at a meeting in Brussels said that the United States would “impose costs” on Russia for “its continued aggression” against Ukraine if there is “no path to peace” in the near future. Hegseth said that the “U.S. War Department stands ready to do our part in ways that only the United States can do,” adding that the most effective deterrence to Russia is “a lethal, capable, and European-led NATO.” Jeanna Smialek reports for the New York Times.

Proposals for an EU “drone wall” remain uncertain due to the potential costs, technical difficulties, and disagreements between member states and the EU commission over who should control such a major defense project, several officials and diplomats told Reuters. The EU commission plans to publish a policy plan for the “European Drone Defence Initiative” today. Andrew Gray, Supantha Mukherjee, and Max Hunder report.

Russia has launched a barrage of more than 300 drones and 37 missiles to target infrastructure, including energy-related infrastructure, sparking outages in eight regions, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the head of the gas company Naftogaz. Russia’s defence ministry has confirmed the attack, according to IFAX news agency.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected US President Donald Trump’s warning of a collapse of the Russian economy, saying Moscow has a “sufficient and considerable margin of safety” and was strong enough to allow President Vladimir Putin to achieve his goals.

Repairs are set to begin “soon” to restore the power supply to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, according to Rafael Grossi, head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog IAEA. The site has been under the control of Russia since shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and it has been cut off from the Ukraine grid since September 23."

lousubcap · October 17

Friday Middle East update:

The United States and Israeli-backed private contractor, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, told BBC News that it has not operated in Gaza since October 10, despite having been funded until the end of November. “Right now we’re on pause,” a GHF spokesperson said, adding that he was unsure if they would continue providing aid in Gaza. Merlyn Thomas and Kevin Nguyen report.

Israeli and U.S. officials said yesterday that Israel is now providing quantities of aid to Gaza that meet the amount required under the ceasefire agreement. An Israeli official had told CNN that Israel only allowed 300 trucks – half the required amount – into Gaza on Wednesday. The same official later said that as of yesterday, there were no restrictions on the movement of aid, as per the levels agreed. UNRWA said yesterday that it is seeing improvements in the levels of aid entering Gaza but warns that the hundreds of trucks needed daily are not yet reaching Palestinians. Jeremy Diamond, Tal Shalev, and Oren Liebermann report; BBC News reports.

“If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” President Donald Trump said yesterday on social media. Trump later clarified that he did not mean the U.S. military. “Someone will go in,” he said. “It’s not going to be us.” Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports for the New York Times.

France, the United Kingdom, and the United States are working to finalize a U.N. Security Council resolution to lay the foundation for an international force in Gaza, according to a French foreign ministry spokesperson. John Irish and Michelle Nichols report for Reuters.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels yesterday said that the Houthi’s military chief of staff Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Ghomari had been killed in an “Israeli-American” airstrike, without disclosing when or any other further details. The statement said that Ghomari was killed along with “some of his companions” and his 13-year-old son. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday, “Another chief-of-staff in the line of terror chiefs who aimed to harm us has been eliminated. We will reach all of them.” Shuaib Almosawa and Vivian Nereim report for the New York Times."

lousubcap · October 17

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian forces are using small drones armed with North Korean cluster munitions in attacks in southern Ukraine, according to a report published yesterday. John Ismay reports for the New York Times.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched a barrage of more than 300 drones and 37 missiles in that attack. Ukraine’s state grid operator, Ukrenergo, has also introduced emergency power cuts in every region of the country.

In a surprise move, United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to another summit on the war in Ukraine after the leaders held a more than two-hour phone conversation. Trump and Putin may meet within the next two weeks in Budapest, Hungary, Trump said after the conversation, which he called productive.

The Kremlin confirmed plans for the meeting, adding that Putin told Trump on the call that supplying US Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine would harm the peace process and damage ties.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will speak in the coming days to prepare the summit, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said, adding that the timing would depend on how preparatory work progressed."

lousubcap · October 18

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

President Donald Trump met his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, telling reporters he was optimistic about ending the war. “I think we have a chance of ending the war quickly if flexibility is shown,” Trump told reporters.

Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his “successful ceasefire” in the Middle East, saying that while “Putin is not ready”, he is confident that with Trump’s “help, we can stop this war, and we really need it”.

Trump did not commit to Zelenskyy’s request for Tomahawk missiles, which are precise, long-range projectiles that Kyiv is seeking in order to strike deep into Russia, saying doing so “could mean big escalation”.

Trump also told reporters that Zelenskyy will “be in touch” during upcoming negotiations in Hungary, where the US president will meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said his country would allow Putin to attend the planned summit with Trump in Budapest, despite the Russian leader facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which Hungary is in the process of leaving.

Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy, proposed building a “US-Russia link via the Bering Strait” in a post on X, also suggesting that the undersea tunnel connecting Russia and the US could be built together with billionaire Elon Musk’s The Boring Company. Asked about the tunnel proposal on Friday, Trump said it was “interesting”, while Zelenskyy said: “I’m not happy with this idea.”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a call with Zelenskyy after his White House meeting, where he “reiterated their unwavering commitment to Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression”, according to a summary of the call published by Downing Street."

lousubcap · October 19

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, announced on X that repairs have begun on damaged power lines at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Authorities had warned that a four-week outage of power at the plant was endangering the safety of the Russian-controlled facility, which needs power to ensure that reactors are kept cool to avoid a dangerous meltdown.

Austria’s Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs announced that it is supporting the European Union’s decision to impose new sanctions against Russia, which require a unanimous vote and have been stymied due to Vienna’s earlier opposition to the plan.

Ukrainians said they were disappointed that the United States may not provide Kyiv with long-range Tomahawk missiles, the Associated Press news agency reported, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on Friday."

lousubcap · October 20

Monday Middle East update:

"Over the weekend, the ceasefire in Gaza unravelled. Israel accused Hamas of violating the agreement and, in response, resumed its bombing of the enclave and temporarily suspended the delivery of humanitarian aid. By Sunday night, however, Israel said it had “begun the renewed enforcement of the cease-fire.” Isabel Kershner reports for the New York Times.

Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One late Sunday that the ceasefire was still in place, Chantal Da Silva reports for NBC News.

While Israel accused Hamas of killing two Israeli soldiers on Sunday, thereby violating the truce, Trump said it was possible that Hamas leadership was not involved in that attack. Hamas’ military wing denied any involvement in the incident. Meanwhile, at least 23 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report for Axios.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner have returned to Israel this week to oversee the ceasefire agreement, reports the Guardian."

lousubcap · October 20

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:
(Always remember the last person to talk to CHEETO has the most impact...See below).
"In a phone call with Trump on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine “surrender full control of Donetsk, a strategically vital region in eastern Ukraine, as a condition for ending the war,” the Washington Post’s Michael Birnbaum reports. Putin suggested he would be willing to surrender Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, parts of two other regions of Ukraine, in exchange for full control of Donetsk. A senior European diplomat told Birnbaum, “It’s like selling them their own leg in exchange for nothing.”

During a Friday meeting at the White House, Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s terms for ending the war. Trump “tossed aside maps of the front line in Ukraine, insisted Zelenskyy surrender the entire Donbas region to Putin, and repeatedly echoed talking points the Russian leader had made in their call a day earlier.” Christopher Miller, Max Seddon, Henry Foy, and Amy Mackinnon report for the Financial Times.

Zelenskyy had gone to the White House to try to secure U.S. Tomahawk missiles for its war with Russia, but Trump denied the request. Trump told reporters following his meeting with Zelenskyy that the war should end immediately: “You go by the battle line, wherever it is. Otherwise, it’s too complicated. You’ll never be able to figure it out. You stop at the battle line.” Laura Sharman reports for CNN."

lousubcap · October 21

Tuesday Middle East update:

"The White House has deployed its top aides to Israel in an effort to preserve the fragile cease-fire deal brokered between Israel and Hamas. Vice President J.D. Vance is joining U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner on the ground today, Neri Zilber and Abigail Hauslohner report for the Financial Times. The high-level visits come as American officials are “increasingly concerned that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, could dismantle the U.S.-brokered agreement.” Katie Rogers and Luke Broadwater report for the New York Times.

Meanwhile, countries are skittish about contributing troops to an international security force that would be tasked with maintaining peace in Gaza. “Diplomats and other officials from several countries who are familiar with the situation say there has been little progress on when the force might be assembled because of confusion over the force’s mission, which appears to be the most serious stumbling block.” The New York Times reports.

With the cease-fire in effect, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the “much-criticized aid group run by U.S. security contractors and backed by Israel,” has suspended its operations in Gaza, Natan Odenheimer, Adam Rasgon, and David M. Halbfinger report for the New York Times."

lousubcap · October 21

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine and its European allies put out a statement this morning calling for negotiations to end the war with Russia with “the current line of contact” as “the starting point of negotiations.” The statement was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; the leaders of nine countries including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy; and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It comes after “Trump urged Zelenskyy to surrender the entire Donbas region to Vladimir Putin, although he later endorsed a freeze of the current front lines.” Josephine Cumbo reports for the Financial Times.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, United States President Donald Trump said of Ukrainians’ prospects in the war: “They could still win it”, but added, “I don’t think they will”.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, and discussed “advancing a durable resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, in line with Trump’s vision,” according a summary of the call released by the US State Department."

lousubcap · October 21

And this just in regarding a near-term CHEETO-Vlad summit:

"A White House official has said that there are "no plans" for a meeting between President Trump and his Russian counterpart "in the immediate future" to discuss the war in Ukraine. This new statement comes days after the US leader said talks would be held soon in Budapest. The White House did not share any more details on why the talks had been put on hold. But the differences between US proposals and Russia's prerequisites for peace, which have grown more evident over the past days, seem to have "dashed chances of a summit between the two presidents", my colleague Laura Gozzi writes. Earlier today, European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement that talks should start with freezing of the current front line. The idea, which concurred with Trump's latest statements on Ukraine, has been dismissed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov."

lousubcap · October 22

Wednesday Middle East update:

"U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem today to discuss phase two of the ceasefire deal brokered between Israel and Hamas, followed by a broader meeting with senior staff. Later in the day, Vance met Israeli President Isaac Herzog at his official residence to “talk about ways to move forward and how they’re going to implement the next steps of Trump’s 20-point peace plan,” Hamdah Salhut reports for Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera reports.

A Hamas delegation meeting Turkish officials in Qatar on Tuesday said the group remains committed to the ceasefire deal despite what it called Israel’s “repeated violations.” In a statement, the delegation accused Israel of delaying implementation by failing to open the Rafah crossing “for the travel of sick and injured people, and its prevention of the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.” Delegation head Mujahid Muhammad Darwish reaffirmed “the inalienable rights of our people to self-determination and their right to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.” Lyndal Rowlands reports for Al Jazeera.

Turkey’s role in persuading Hamas to accept President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire deal has turned its once-contentious ties to the group into a geopolitical advantage, Samia Nakhoul, Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay report for Reuters. Two regional sources and two Hamas officials said Ankara’s message urging Hamas to accept the U.S.-backed plan was decisive, prompting Trump to praise Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as “one of the most powerful” and “a reliable ally.” Analysts say the breakthrough has given Turkey new diplomatic leverage in Washington, with officials expected to use the goodwill to push for progress on F-35 fighter jet sales, relief from U.S. sanctions, and support for its security goals in Syria. The effort also reestablished Turkey’s influence in Middle East diplomacy—unsettling Israel and Arab rivals such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—and capped a reset in U.S.-Turkey relations following Erdoğan’s September visit to the White House.

President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance warned on Tuesday that Hamas will face swift, severe action if it does not comply with the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, including disarmament. Vance, visiting a military facility in southern Israel where U.S. troops are monitoring the agreement, said the U.S., Israel and Gulf partners all agree that while some fighters could receive clemency, Hamas must disarm. “If Hamas doesn’t cooperate, as the president of the United States has said, Hamas is going to be obliterated,” he warned. Earlier, Trump wrote that an end to Hamas would be “FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL” if the group fails to “do what is right.” Alexander Cornwell and Nidal Al-Mughrabi report for Reuters.

Discussions are under way on deploying international security forces in Gaza, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said today at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi. He added that scaling up humanitarian aid remains a priority and cautioned against “maximalist views” among Israeli right-wing leaders, saying any annexation of Palestinian territory would cross a “red line.” Al Jazeera reports.

Jared Kushner said yesterday in Kiryat Gat, Israel, that the United States and its allies are considering starting reconstruction in parts of Gaza currently held by Israeli forces, which make up about half of the enclave. “No reconstruction funds will be going into areas that Hamas still controls,” he said, describing the proposal as a step toward creating a “new Gaza” that would “give Palestinians a place to go, to get jobs, [and] to live.” Kushner added that the plan remains under discussion and did not clarify whether the area would be overseen by Israeli forces or a future international administration. Aaron Boxerman reports for the New York Times.

Only 986 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have entered Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to the Gaza Government Media Office, which said that number represents just 15 percent of the 6,600 deliveries expected by Oct. 20 under the ceasefire agreement. The office warned that the shortfall threatens essential supplies for civilians. Ali Harb reports for Al Jazeera.

Israeli forces carried out new raids across the occupied West Bank, detaining at least 22 Palestinians this morning, according to Palestine’s Wafa news agency. Sixteen people, including a child, were arrested in Hebron governorate, five in Nablus and the Balata camp, and two people riding a motorcycle were assaulted in Beit Hanina, East Jerusalem, with one arrested. Al Jazeera reporting.

“Destruction and forced displacement persist” in the West Bank, Roland Friedrich, director of UNRWA Affairs in the occupied territory, warned in a statement. Friedrich urged that “a drawdown in Gaza should not become an opportunity to tighten the grip of occupation elsewhere,” stressing that “the future of Gaza and [the] West Bank are one.” Al Jazeera reports."

lousubcap · October 22

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia has restated its previous terms for a peace deal with Ukraine in a private “non-paper” sent to the United States over the weekend, Reuters reports. The document reiterates Moscow’s demand for full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region—effectively rejecting President Donald Trump’s proposal to freeze the frontlines at their current positions—and insists that no NATO troops be stationed in Ukraine under any settlement.

European nations are coordinating with Ukraine on a new ceasefire proposal that would freeze Russia’s war along current front lines, senior diplomats told Reuters. The plan largely builds on ideas already under discussion but emphasizes maintaining a central U.S. role. A senior European diplomat said the proposal envisions creating a peace board, chaired by President Donald Trump, to oversee implementation of the agreement. Three other diplomats confirmed that proposals were being prepared, with one noting that the board would be modeled on the U.S. 20-point plan in Gaza. Once both sides agree to a ceasefire, they would proceed to negotiations on territorial matters, though any areas occupied by Russia would not be recognized as Russian territory, a senior diplomat said."

lousubcap · October 23

Thursday Middle East update:

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel today following Vice President JD Vance’s visit this week. Rubio said yesterday that he plans to visit the new civilian military coordination centre in southern Israel, where U.S. troops are working alongside the Israeli military and delegations from other countries planning the stabilization of Gaza. Renata Brito and Josef Federman report for AP News.

Vance yesterday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “give a shot” to the ceasefire deal, two U.S. officials and one Israeli official told Axios. The implementation of the deal “takes monitoring … not in the sense of, you know, you monitor a toddler … It’s about the fact that it’s a lot of work,” Vance said following his meeting with Netanyahu. Barak Ravid reports.

The International Court of Justice yesterday issued an advisory opinion stating that “as an occupying power,” Israel is “obliged” to ensure the basic needs of the civilian population in Gaza are met. The opinion states that Israel must accept humanitarian support from U.N. entities, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Israel’s foreign ministry said on social media that it rejected the court’s finding and added, “Israel fully upholds its obligations under international law.” The U.S. State Department also responded to the advisory opinion yesterday, saying, “This so-called ‘court’ issues a nakedly politicizing non-binding ‘advisory opinion’ unfairly bashes Israel and gives UNRWA a free pass for its deep entanglement with and material support for Hamas Terrorism.” Stephanie van den Berg reports for Reuters; Faith Wardwell reports for POLITICO.

A bill applying “the sovereignty of the State of Israel” to the occupied West Bank won preliminary approval from Israel’s parliament yesterday. Netanyahu’s Likud party did not support the legislation, which was put forward by lawmakers outside his coalition and was passed by a vote of 25-24 out of 120 lawmakers. This is the first of four votes required for the law to pass. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that the United States was “not supportive of [the bill] right now,” adding “we think it’s potentially threatening to the peace deal.” Maayan Lubell reports for Reuters; Al Jazeera reports.""

lousubcap · October 23

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The Trump administration yesterday announced new sanctions against Russia’s two largest oil companies: Rosneft and Lukoil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate cease-fire,” describing the oil companies as twin engines of “the Kremlin’s war machine.” President Donald Trump said that he “just felt it was the right time” for the sanctions and explained that he had also cancelled his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as it “just didn’t feel right to me.” Shawn McCreesh reports for the New York Times.

European Union officials today approved a fresh package of sanctions against Russia, banning liquefied natural gas imports and targeting Russia’s banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. Jeanna Smialek reports for the New York Times.

The Trump administration has quietly lifted a restriction on Ukraine’s use of some long-range missiles provided by Western allies, enabling Kyiv to increase attacks on targets inside Russia, U.S. officials said yesterday. The officials added that they expect Ukraine to conduct more cross-border attacks using the British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missile, which relies on U.S intelligence to hit its targets. Lara Seligman, Michael R. Gordon, and Alexander Ward report for the Wall Street Journal.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 405 drones and 28 missiles at Ukraine in an overnight attack targeting energy infrastructure. Ukraine downed 16 Russian missiles and 333 drones, while other missiles eluded defences and directly hit targets, the air force said.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Trump’s call for Ukraine and Russia to freeze the war at its current front lines was “a good compromise”, but he doubted that Putin would support it.""

lousubcap · October 24

Friday Middle East update:

"It will take around 20 to 30 years to clear the surface of Gaza of unexploded ordnance, according to aid group Humanity & Inclusion. “If you’re looking at a full clearance, it’s never happening, it’s subterranean. We will find it for generations to come,” an Explosive Ordnance Disposal expert from Humanity & Inclusion said. More than 53 deaths caused by lethal remnants have been recorded since October 2023, which is thought to be a huge underestimate by several aid groups. Emma Farge reports for Reuters.

Vice President JD Vance said yesterday that the task of disarming Hamas was “going to take some time” and “it’s going to depend a lot on the composition of [the international security] force,” which has yet to be formed. Trump’s 20-point peace proposal did not specify that the security force would disarm Hamas, but rather envisioned that the force would help to secure areas of Gaza where Israeli troops have withdrawn and prevent munitions from entering the territory. Liam Stack and Tyler Pager report for the New York Times.

The amount of aid entering Gaza is only a “fraction of what’s needed,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said yesterday. Tedros said that the situation remains “catastrophic,” adding that significantly more effort was needed as over 600,000 people face severe levels of food insecurity. “There is no dent in hunger because there is not enough food.” Christy Santhosh reports for Reuters; Abby Rogers reports for Al Jazeera.

At no point since the ceasefire came into effect have 600 U.N. aid trucks entered Gaza on any given day as specified in the agreement, a U.N. Secretary-General spokesperson told Al Jazeera.

U.S. officials are considering a proposal for humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, which would establish 12-16 humanitarian hubs along the line in Gaza to which Israeli forces have withdrawn, according to a plan seen by Reuters. The hubs would include “voluntary reconciliation facilities” for combatants to give up their weapons and receive amnesty. It is one of several concepts being explored, two U.S. officials said. Phil Stewart and Jonathan Landay report.

Vance said yesterday, before leaving Israel, that the Knesset’s vote this week on annexing the occupied West Bank was “weird,” adding that “if it was a political stunt, it was a stupid one and I take some insult to it.” Vance reiterated that the Trump administration’s policy is that “the West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

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